JONESBORO — Arkansas State looked poised to pull away a few times Saturday night.
But Central Arkansas wouldn't let it, and in the process pulled off a comeback victory that could be considered one of the biggest in its program's history.
UCA's Antwon Wells scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Then after UCA recovered a Johnston White fumble, Brandon Cox caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Hildebrand and the Bears escaped Centennial Bank Stadium with a 28-23 upset of ASU.
It was UCA’s second victory over an FBS member since it moved to the FCS in 2006, and its first since winning at Western Kentucky in 2009. It was ASU's first loss to an FCS team since 2001, when Nicholls State won 28-22 on Thanksgiving Day, the day Coach Joe Hollis was fired to cap a 2-9 season.
That was also the last time ASU started the season 0-4, which it fell to on Saturday night after letting Hildebrand pass for 270 yards and the Bears rush for 112.
ASU outgained the Bears in yards 469-382, but ASU had four turnovers, the first three of which led to UCA points. ASU's last three drives ended with two fumbles that UCA turned into the game-deciding touchdowns and an interception that led to UCA running out the final 1:46 while the stands at Centennial Bank Stadium emptied.
ASU jumped to a 16-7 lead in the first half when Kendall Sanders caught a 5-yard touchdown and Warren Wand caught a 48-yard pass from Justice Hansen. But the Bears used field goals of 29, 43 and 25 yards from Matt Cummins to tie the game at 16-16 in the third quarter.
Hansen, who finished with 424 yards passing, later connected with Cameron Echols-Luper for a 58-yard touchdown to go up 23-16.
ASU got a stop and the ball back, but UCA’s Chris Terrell forced a fumble that UCA recovered on the 50. That led to Wells’ 3-yard touchdown run. Cummins missed the extra point that would have tied the game, but ASU again missed a chance to seal the game.
White fumbled on the UCA 14, and then the Bears marched 86 yards, capped by Hildebrand’s touchdown pass to Cox, who started his career at ASU before transferring to UCA last season.
ASU then drove to UCA's 31 — which included a key fourth-and-12 conversion to Blake Mack, but Hansen's third-down pass intended for Chris Murray was intercepted by Tyler Williams at the UCA 9 with 1:46 left.
Jatavious Wilson kept plenty of drives alive for the Bears, while catching 7 passes for 130 yards.
UCA cornerback Tremon Smith, a preseason All-American had two punt returns in the first half that combined for 77 yards and an interception, all in the first half that led to UCA points. ASU led 16-13 at halftime.
Read Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.